Quick change troller



Jan. 2l, 1958 H. J. SMITH 2,820,428

QUICK CHANGE TROLLER Filed NOV. 50, 1956 INVENTOR.

15 Mme/J .s/wrx/ A'TTD RN EYE Unitfid States Patent C QUICK CHANGE TROLLER Harry J. Smith, Roy, Utah Application November 30, 1956, Serial No. 625,455

3 Claims. (Cl. 115-18) This invention relates to a trolling attachment, and more particularly to a trolling attachment for an outboard motor.

The object of the invention is to provide a trolling attachment for use with an outboard motor whereby the speed of a boat can be readily retarded or controlled, as during trolling operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a trolling assembly which is adapted to be readily attached to a conventional outboard motor whereby the speed of a boat can be readily slowed down so as to permit occupants of the boat to move slowly through the water as during trolling.

A further object of the invention is to provide a trolling attachment which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same.

Figure 1 is a side elevational view illustrating the trolling assembly attached to an outboard motor.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 3 and showing an end of the trolling attachment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 5.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the nut which has been modified so as to include the pair of slots.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a portion of a conventional outboard motor, and the outboard motor 10 includes the usual hub 11 and propeller 12, Figure 1. There is further provided a nut 13 which is arranged adjacent an end of the hub 11, Figure 7. The nut 13 includes curved surfaces 14 and a rounded end portion 15 as well as flat surfaces 16. The flat surfaces 16 of the nut 13 are each provided with slots 17 for a purpose to be later described.

The present invention is directed to a trolling attachment which is indicated generally by the numeral 18, and the trolling attachment 18 is adapted to be mounted on the water driving section of the outboard motor 10. The trolling attachment 18 includes a cylindrical housing 19 which surrounds the rear portion of the hub 11. The housing 19 further includes a back wall 20, and extending rearwardly from the back wall 20 is a cup-shaped or funnel shaped casing 21. The cup-shaped casing 21 snugly receives therein the nose portion 15 of the nut 13.

Arranged contiguous to the outer surface of the back wall 20 of the housing 19 is a disc 22 of circular shape, and the disc 22 is secured to the back wall 20 in any suitable manner, as for example by means of bolt and nut assemblies 23, Figure 4.

The casing 21 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed cutouts or openings 25. There is further provided a pair of pivotally mounted levers or bars 26, and a suitable weight 27 may be arranged on the outer end of each of the levers 26. The levers 26 are pivotally connected to the outer surface of the casing 21 through the medium of pivot pin assemblies 28. Extending inwardly from each of the inner ends of the levers 26 is a finger 29, and the fingers 29 are mounted for movement through the openings 25 and into and out of engagement with the slots 17 in the nut 13. A pair of coil springs 30 are mounted in a bore or cut out in a support portion 32, the support portion 32 being formed integral with or secured to the rear surface of the casing 21. The coil springs as serve to normally bias the levers 26 outwardly whereby :the fingers 29 are normally biased into engagement with the slots 17. The inner ends of the spring 30 are arranged in engagement with a pin 31. Stop members 33 may be secured to the disc 22, and the stop members 33 may be used for limiting outward pivotal movement of the levers 26.

Secured at the rear end of the support portion 32 is a bracket 37, and a cable 34 has a snap fastener 35 thereon, the snap fastener 35 being connected to the bracket 37. The other end of the cable 34- is provided with a hand gripping portion 36. The cable 34 can be used as a safety device so as to prevent accidental loss of the attachment whereby the device will not accidentally fall into the water. A peg 33 is adapted to be connected to the disc 22 by means of a bolt or screw 39, and the peg 38 is provided for a purpose to be later described.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided an attachment which is adapted to be connected to the outboard motor 10 whereby the motor can propel a boat through the water at a retarded speed so that the persons in the boat can troll conveniently. In use, the nut 13 of the conventional outboard motor Ill is modified to the extent so that it includes the pair of opposed slots 17 as shown in Figure 7. The attachment 18 of the present invention includes the housing 19 which fits over the rear portion of the propeller hub 11, and the pair of coil springs 30 normally bias or urge the fingers 29 through the openings 25 in the casing 21 and into engagement with the slots 17 so that the attachment is maintained or retained on the water driving unit of the outboard motor. The cable 34 can be attached. to the bracket 37 on the rear of the device by means of the snap fastener 35, and the cable 34 can be used as a safety member so as to help insure that the device does not accidentally drop into the water. Due to the provision of the snap fastener 35, the cable 34 can be readily removed when it is not needed. When it is desired to remove the attachment, the pair of levers 26 can be manually depressed so as to compress the pair of coil springs 30 and this will cause the fingers 29 to move out of engagement with the slots 17 whereby the trolling attachment 18 can be readily removed from the outboard motor 10 so that the motor 10 can be used in the conventional manner. However, as previously described, the coil springs 30 normally urge the fingers 29 into locking engagement with the slots 17 in the nut 13. The attachment further includes the cup-shaped casing 21 which snugly fits over the end portion 15 of the nut 13 and due to the provision of the circular disc 22, the action of the propeller 12 can be retarded sufiiciently so as to permit the boat to be propelled along slow enough to permit the users of the boat to troll conveniently.

The fiat surfaces 16 of the nut 13 permits the nut to be readily removed or replaced by means of a wrench or other tool. The trolling disc 22 fits snugly against the 3 propeller '12. The quick change troller of the present invention slows the flow .of water through the propeller and makes the water go over the top of the disc so that the thrust is only on top of the propeller and not through the same. Also, water is thrown upon the pump screen so that the water pump inlet is never in a vacuum which is created by the disc when the motor is speeded up. The parts can be made of any suitable material and in any desired shape or size. Ditferent sizes of discs can be interchangeably used depending upon the size of the outboard motor. Due to the provision of the weighted portions 27 of the levers 26, the levers 26 will move out at high speed due to centrifugal force, so that there will be no possibility of accidental disengagement of the device from the outboard motor. Furthermore, the disc 22 fits tightly against the propeller blades so that the disc will not wobble or get out of shape. The peg 38 prevents the disc and nut from unscrewing in the event that the cotter pin is lost or removed. The cable 34 can have one end attached to the ring or bracket 32 while the other end of the cable 34- can be tied to the boat as when the attachment is being removed or replaced. This is a safety feature which prevents accidental loss of the attachment. Furthermore, the attachment can be positioned on the propeller or removed therefrom in a minimum. amount of time and with a minimum amount of effort. When the trolling attachment is used on large motors, the boat will be slowed down suificiently so that fishing can be conveniently accomplished. Furthermore, the attachment will result in a saving in fuel and the troller can be removed when it is not needed. If desired, a gasket can be arranged on the inner surface of the disc 22 and such a gasket is indicated by the numeral 40 in Figure 1, and this gasket insures that there will be a snug fit between the disc and propel er. If desired, suitable adapters can be used so as to permit the device to be used on different sizes of motors. The metal peg 38 is adapted to hit the propeller blade in the event that the cotter pin is lost from the nut so that the nut cannot come off. The disc 22 is provided with openings 4 whereby larger plates can be secured to the disc as desired. The device is constructed so that either one of the springs 30 will function to hold the attachment on the outboard motor. The cable 34 is removed as soon as the attachment is in place. The device of the present invention slows the flow of water through the propeller and sends the water over the trolling disc 22. By having the disc 22 of smaller diameter'than the propeller 3.2, the boat can be propelled through the water at the desired speed since if the disc was as large as the propeller the boat would not move forwardly. Furthermore, the attachment is extremely simple and inexpensive to fabricate and is ruggedly constructed so that it will withstand long periods of usage.

I claim:

1. In combination with an outboard motor having a water driving unit including a propeller, a hub and a nut, said nut including a pair of fiat surfaces each provided with a slot therein, said nut further including a rounded rear end, a trolling assembly releasably connected to said water driving unit and including a cylindrical housing adapted to fit over the rear end of said hub, said housing further including a back wall, a cup-shaped casing extending rearwardly from said back Wall for receiving the rounded portion of said nut, there being a pair of diametrically opposed openings in said casing, a pair of opposed levers pivotally connected to the outer surface of said casing, a transverse finger extending inwardly from each of said levers and said fingers being mounted for movement through the openings in said casing and into engagement with the slots in said nut, coil springs arranged in engagement with said levers, a support portion extending rearwardly from said casing, a bracket extending rearwardly from said support portion, a cable detachrably connected to said bracket, a disc secured to the outer surface of the back wall of said housing, and said disc being arranged contiguous to the propeller.

2. In a trolling attachment, a cylindrical housing including a back wall, a cup-shaped casing extending rearwardly from the back wall of said housing, there being a pair of diametrically opposed openings in said casing, 21 pair of opposed levers pivotally connected to said casing, a transverse finger extending inwardly from each of said levers and said fingers being mounted for movement through the openings in said casing, coil springs arranged in engagement with said levers, a support portion extend ing rearwardly from said casing, a bracket extending rearwardly from said support portion, a cable detachably connected to said bracket, and a disc secured to the outer surface of the back wall of said housing.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2 and further including stop members for limiting outward pivotal movement of said levers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,908,865 Richardson May 16, 1933 2,226,007 McGrete Dec. 24, 1940 2,265,625 Buck Dec. 9, 1941 2,458,785 Kottke Jan. 11, 1949 2,460,237 Palmer Jan. 25, 1949 2,495,116 McClain Jan. 17, 1950 

